Your Mother Was Right...Traditional, Natural and Money Saving Beauty Tips that Pass the Test of Time



Everyone hates being told “I told you so”, and most women also hate thinking their mother was right. However, on stepping upon the threshold of 30, and with my mother now in her early sixties, I can’t help but notice that on a good day, she looks not more than maybe only five or ten years older.

And with each wrinkle, thinned out skin or spot I notice, I hear her quite literally echoing voice telling me “I told you so”.  So what was it exactly that she used to always harp on about while growing up?


Quite simply - endless beauty tips that at that time seemed to have been written on stone tablets alongside Moses’ 10 Commandments. But these then thought of as primitive beauty routines now seem charming and simple in an age where we're constantly fed a barrage of beauty adverts and overly photo-shopped images of perfection.

In my own desperate attempt to look great, I have ventured down every possible winding road that ultimately lead me nowhere, and pick-pocketing my hard earned dollars with daylight robbery rates and empty promises of youth and beauty.  I finally decided to throw in the towel and revert to the ‘old ways’ of doing things…


Best Kept Beauty Secrets

Face  
•    For smooth skin, crush four uncoated aspirins and mix 1 cup distilled water and ¼ cup apple cider vinegar.  Use this 2-3 times a day for incredibly smooth skin and as an alternative to washing your face in the morning.
•    If you have sensitive skin acne-prone, stay away from rich spicy foods, which only irritate and inflame your system.
•    Sleep.  Staying up too late or not getting enough sleep wreaks havoc on your skin, causing it to look dull, tired, and likely leading to breakouts.
•    Use patchouli oil to quickly get rid of acne.  Mix 10 drops of this strong smelling oil with 10 oz of almond oil as a nightly moisturizer and anti-wrinkle treatment.  It's got a potent smell; some people love it, others hate it, but it works like a charm.
Hair
•    For soft hair, massage your scalp with coconut oil once a week, working it into your hair.  Leave it in there for about 3 hours prior to washing it out with shampoo.  Use just a dab of conditioner at the ends.
•    For shiny hair, mix one egg (yolk and all) with a mashed up banana and apply it as a thick paste to your hair.  Leave it on for 10-30 minutes, depending on your hair texture.  Then, wash it out as usual and use conditioner only at the ends.
•    For natural hair dye, use henna and add in a bit of lemon to the paste. Leave it in your hair for about 30 minutes to one hair for a natural reddish/auburn tint.
Body
•    Use a mixture of pure olive oil with 1/2 parts sea salt as an in-shower body scrub.  This combo completely eliminates the need for lotion and is great for winter weather.
•    Make sure you get in some sort of physical activity.  Our mothers and grandmothers stayed in shape with simple stretches, and not grueling hours at the gym.  Try reaping the benefits of yoga as a way to maintain your girlish figure.
•    Washing your hair with boiled rice water is also a great alternative for shiny hair.

The results of my little experiment and in following these tips have been absolutely smashing. I never looked better and the extra savings from not having to splurge on beauty products is the fondant on the cake.



Your Mother Was Right is written by one of my favorite pals, freelance writer Shireen Qudosi.  Follow her on Twitter @ShireenQ or email her at shireen.qudosi@hotmail.com

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8 comments:

  1. I just read your question about South Africa on another blogs blog..I'm a South African living in Germany...and cant wait to go back home!!
    I have a picture of Cape Town on the top of my blog if you interested to take a look.
    South Africa is like US...we are very *first world * there...our children have a very good education, go to school 5 times a week, we have the most amazing malls, freeways, homes, most have swimming pools...
    Cape Town South Africa is a beach and sun lifestyle.....I really miss it stuck in grey dull Europe.

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  2. Hi Marcelle, and thanks for the information on South Africa. It sounds wonderful. I love Gillian and her blog. Come back and visit again.

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  3. Indeed, it always proves that mothers know best. Keep posting!

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  4. Shireen is an awesome writer and we are lucky to get her insight into some really great things.

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  5. Thanks for your blog! I'm concerned about what schools are using to disinfect for H1N1. Cleaning supplies are often more hazardous than the H1N1virus itself. Here are some resources to help parents and teachers determine what their schools are using, and what they should be using: H1N1 in Schools and Environmental Working Group Report on Schools It all starts with asking your school how often they clean it (EVERY DAY should be the answer!).

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  6. I am working right now with a company that provides an amazing product that can keep your linens and clothing germ free for a month. They also have products that disinfect surfaces and hands using completely natural products. It is an amazing product that I am excited to share in our OpenSky Environmental Booty Shop...stay tuned!

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  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  8. Anonymous, I welcome your visits and even relevant links, but do you know that Google looks very poorly upon unrelated comments and links? Please keep your links relevant to health, wellness and the environment.

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